Drimnagh-born priest to join College of Cardinals

By Maurice Garvey

A DRIMNAGH priest is set to become one of 17 new cardinals elevated by Pope Francis next month.

Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, Texas, was born and raised in Drimnagh, and news that he will join the College of Cardinals on November 19, was celebrated in his native parish.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Canon John Flaherty of Our Lady of Good Counsel, said: “The people of the parish are absolutely delighted. Those attending the first morning Mass after the announcement were all talk of the news. It has given the parish a real lift.”

Canon Flaherty says Drimnagh now holds the distinction as a parish which can lay claim to not one, but two high-ranking prelates at the Vatican, given Bishop Farrell’s brother, Bishop Brian Farrell, is secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The Farrell brothers hail from Galtymore Park in Drimnagh, and were born into “a faith-filled family”, serving as altar boys at the local church, according to Canon Flaherty.

He said the family continue to be active in parish life through the McCauley Community Centre.

The brothers returned to the parish to celebrate Mass during the Eucharistic Congress of 2012.

In a statement to the Catholic diocese of Dallas, Bishop Farrell said: “I am humbled by the news that our Holy Father Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals. I ask all in the diocese to please pray for me that I may to the best of my ability fulfil this sacred duty to our Church.”

Bishop Farrell left Dallas on October 6 to take up residence in Rome, where he will serve as the new Prefect for the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

He served as the Bishop of the diocese of Dallas since 2007.